Horns, more horns and ... Spiritual Insights and a Change in Plan? (Bangalore, India)
I've been in India for a almost a week now and I'm so glad I only have a couple more days before leaving. I've experienced two Indian cities now. Chennai, and more thoroughly - Bangalore, India's "Silicon Valley." Anyone who has known me for any length of time or read through this website, will know that I really dislike excessive cars and pollution. There are so many vehicles here honking seemingly every second that it is really starting to annoy me. I'm not overwhelmed in the sense of sensory assault, but just aggravated at having to put up with all the carbon monoxide belching vehicles and worse than that...noise pollution (The weather on the other hand is quite pleasant in Bangalore right now).
In traffic congested Bangkok, Jakarta (Still near the top of my list for my least favorite major cities), Beijing, and Los Angeles (Among notable totally car congested places that come to mind) there isn't anywhere near the same degree of horn honking. Where is the soundproof Lexus or Mercedes when I really need it (Not that I've ever owned one)?
Thus far the driving in India is not proving to be as crazy as Sri Lanka or even Bali for that fact (Something about island life). I think this has more to do with the sheer volume of traffic. One just can't drive that fast around these South Indian cities. Maybe it is worse in the rural areas of India than Sri Lanka...but it is likely a close shade of gray.
Garbage
One thing I don't like looking at but which I am forcing myself to is all the pollution and shoddily constructed streets and dirty run down buildings and slummy areas (I have some good shots of slum areas in the midst of high tech areas - with a familiar US computer company's logo in the background..though this should not be construed as a negative for the US Company)......more than any place I have been thus far. People have such a lack of regard for littering too.
I have seen people receive a piece of paper advertising from a man walking the streets and just turn around and throw it out the window of their car. In another instance a store keeper was emptying his garbage on the street in front of his sidewalk. One doesn't have to work hard to imagine this taking place many times over...the trash in the river channels and almost on every corner is very sad. More analysis and thoughts on this later....to a more important matter on my travels....
Spiritual Insights and a Change in Plan
I didn't think it would happen this soon but I have come to several important "spiritual realizations" that will have a profound effect on the rest of my travels. And the events which led me to this realization are unorthodox to say the least. But, I hope you are not reading the Circus of Life for orthodox views, otherwise I need a serious re-examination of my own writing and analysis.
The 3 culminating events:
Two related ones -
1) Buying a pack of tissue paper in my Kandy, Sri Lanka Hotel
2) Buying a wood carving of an elephant in Sri Lanka from a tout near Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
and the final hammer -
3) Reading the in-flight magazine on Jet Airways while flying from Chennai - Bangalore.
Of course, these events don't stand alone as many other places and events have put me in the right mindset for formulating my conclusion and realization, but they are the culminating events in my mind at this time. My realization is so powerful in my mind right now that I don't even feel it necessary to visit any more spiritual sites anywhere other than to just see them for curiosity's sake. This also affects my coincidence "quest" (for lack of a better name).
I doubt I am the first to draw such conclusions, but I can't recall reading or watching anything of the sort as to the method of reaching my conclusion. A search on the Internet is in order.
With this in mind, I may cut short my travels in North India and spend more time in Nepal. Strictly, because I am finding India to be so annoying, despite the majestic sights. While my preliminary itinerary for North India has me going to the #1 spiritual / pilgrimage sites of Sikhs, Hindu, and Buddhism, this would be more of an exercise in curiosity, understanding, and I might even say gawking now. I guess it ultimately depends on how I feel after 2 weeks in Palau.
The wonders of air travel. Heck, I might even leave sooner than planned to Arabia where I could use a little more time.
As for an explanation of these 3 events, that is going to take a bit of writing on my part. I hope Palau will allow me to post at least a rudimentary outline and explanation.
Wishing for my Albertson's Yogurt,
Wayne
In traffic congested Bangkok, Jakarta (Still near the top of my list for my least favorite major cities), Beijing, and Los Angeles (Among notable totally car congested places that come to mind) there isn't anywhere near the same degree of horn honking. Where is the soundproof Lexus or Mercedes when I really need it (Not that I've ever owned one)?
Thus far the driving in India is not proving to be as crazy as Sri Lanka or even Bali for that fact (Something about island life). I think this has more to do with the sheer volume of traffic. One just can't drive that fast around these South Indian cities. Maybe it is worse in the rural areas of India than Sri Lanka...but it is likely a close shade of gray.
Garbage
One thing I don't like looking at but which I am forcing myself to is all the pollution and shoddily constructed streets and dirty run down buildings and slummy areas (I have some good shots of slum areas in the midst of high tech areas - with a familiar US computer company's logo in the background..though this should not be construed as a negative for the US Company)......more than any place I have been thus far. People have such a lack of regard for littering too.
I have seen people receive a piece of paper advertising from a man walking the streets and just turn around and throw it out the window of their car. In another instance a store keeper was emptying his garbage on the street in front of his sidewalk. One doesn't have to work hard to imagine this taking place many times over...the trash in the river channels and almost on every corner is very sad. More analysis and thoughts on this later....to a more important matter on my travels....
Spiritual Insights and a Change in Plan
I didn't think it would happen this soon but I have come to several important "spiritual realizations" that will have a profound effect on the rest of my travels. And the events which led me to this realization are unorthodox to say the least. But, I hope you are not reading the Circus of Life for orthodox views, otherwise I need a serious re-examination of my own writing and analysis.
The 3 culminating events:
Two related ones -
1) Buying a pack of tissue paper in my Kandy, Sri Lanka Hotel
2) Buying a wood carving of an elephant in Sri Lanka from a tout near Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
and the final hammer -
3) Reading the in-flight magazine on Jet Airways while flying from Chennai - Bangalore.
Of course, these events don't stand alone as many other places and events have put me in the right mindset for formulating my conclusion and realization, but they are the culminating events in my mind at this time. My realization is so powerful in my mind right now that I don't even feel it necessary to visit any more spiritual sites anywhere other than to just see them for curiosity's sake. This also affects my coincidence "quest" (for lack of a better name).
I doubt I am the first to draw such conclusions, but I can't recall reading or watching anything of the sort as to the method of reaching my conclusion. A search on the Internet is in order.
With this in mind, I may cut short my travels in North India and spend more time in Nepal. Strictly, because I am finding India to be so annoying, despite the majestic sights. While my preliminary itinerary for North India has me going to the #1 spiritual / pilgrimage sites of Sikhs, Hindu, and Buddhism, this would be more of an exercise in curiosity, understanding, and I might even say gawking now. I guess it ultimately depends on how I feel after 2 weeks in Palau.
The wonders of air travel. Heck, I might even leave sooner than planned to Arabia where I could use a little more time.
As for an explanation of these 3 events, that is going to take a bit of writing on my part. I hope Palau will allow me to post at least a rudimentary outline and explanation.
Wishing for my Albertson's Yogurt,
Wayne
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